H.R. 4329

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4329 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4329

To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish an 
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2025

Ms. Houlahan (for herself, Mr. Barr, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Thompson of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Carbajal, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Moore of 
Utah) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish an 
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Building Civic Bridges Act''.

SEC. 2. CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING.

Subtitle H of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``PART VI--CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING

``SEC. 198T. OFFICE OF CIVIC BRIDGEBUILDING.

``(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Corporation an Office 
of Civic Bridgebuilding (in this section referred to as the `Office'). 
The Office shall be headed by an Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding, who 
shall be designated by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 
195(b).
``(b) Duties.--The Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding shall carry out 
each of the following:
``(1) Administer the grant program described in subsection 
(d) to support civic bridgebuilding across the United States, 
including by establishing standardized criteria (based on 
principles of scientific research and input through the 
consultation process under subsection (c)) to track the 
effectiveness of projects and activities funded under such 
program.
``(2) Support the Corporation in providing training in 
skills and techniques relevant to civic bridgebuilding (based 
on principles of scientific research and input through the 
consultation process under subsection (c))--
``(A) for participants (including individuals who 
have been selected to be participants) of a program 
receiving funding under the authority of the national 
service laws; and
``(B) upon request by an organization that receives 
funding under the authority of the national service 
laws or that is carrying out a program in which 
participants described in subparagraph (A) are 
participating, for such organization.
``(3) Support research and evaluations on civic 
bridgebuilding and the dissemination of related information, 
including through--
``(A) evaluation and oversight of the grant program 
described in subsection (d);
``(B) as the Corporation determines necessary, 
collaboration (including through the evaluation of the 
activities of the Corporation relating to civic 
bridgebuilding and civic engagement) between the Office 
and--
``(i) other offices (such as the Office of 
Research and Evaluation), teams, or individuals 
within the Corporation; and
``(ii) other Federal agencies, including 
the Community Relations Service of the 
Department of Justice, the United States Agency 
for International Development, and the United 
States Institute of Peace; and
``(C) the establishment of a publicly available 
collection of publications for a research base for the 
purpose of assembling research focused on evaluating 
the extent to which civic bridgebuilding and civic 
engagement activities strengthen or weaken other civic 
bridgebuilding and civic engagement activities and 
outcomes in the United States.
``(4) Activate and sustain a public conversation about the 
importance of civic bridgebuilding by convening and 
coordinating civic bridgebuilding programs and providing 
resources, networking, and collaboration opportunities to 
individuals and entities in the civic bridgebuilding field for 
the purpose of disseminating and refining best practices based 
on principles of scientific research and input through the 
consultation process under subsection (c).
``(c) Consultation Process.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the duties under this 
section, the Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding shall consult with 
members of the civic bridgebuilding field, including for 
purposes of--
``(A) identifying strategic priorities for the 
Office;
``(B) developing the standardized criteria required 
under subsection (b)(1);
``(C) supporting the development and dissemination 
of research under subsection (b)(3);
``(D) developing best practices for civic 
bridgebuilding under subsection (b)(4); and
``(E) administering the grant program described in 
subsection (d).
``(2) Diversity in consultation.--In carrying out the 
consultation under paragraph (1), the Officer of Civic 
Bridgebuilding shall consult members of the civic 
bridgebuilding field who represent diverse ideological, 
religious, racial, regional, professional, or ethnic 
communities, including such members--
``(A) who represent eligible entities engaged in 
civic bridgebuilding;
``(B) who represent existing or potential programs 
and grantees receiving funding under the authority of 
the national service laws, including State Service 
Commissions;
``(C) who are researchers producing work based on 
principles of scientific research related to civic 
bridgebuilding in the United States and 
internationally; and
``(D) who represent other Federal agencies or 
public institutions engaged in or supporting work 
related to civic bridgebuilding in the United States 
and internationally, such as--
``(i) the Community Relations Service of 
the Department of Justice;
``(ii) the United States Agency for 
International Development; and
``(iii) the United States Institute of 
Peace.
``(d) Civic Bridgebuilding Pilot Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Corporation (acting through the 
Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding with input through the 
consultation process under subsection (c))--
``(A) shall carry out a pilot program for a 3-year 
period to award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities to support civic bridgebuilding 
programs across the United States for purposes of--
``(i) reducing conflict and improving 
social cohesion; and
``(ii) addressing a public concern such as 
unmet human, educational, health care, 
environmental, or public safety needs; and
``(B) may carry out such a pilot program for 
additional 3-year periods.
``(2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this subsection 
shall be for a 1-year period. Grants shall be awarded under 
this subsection in 3 grant cycles for each 3-year period of the 
pilot program carried out under paragraph (1).
``(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application 
to the Corporation at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information and assurances as the Corporation may require, 
including--
``(A) a description of the project that will be 
funded with the grant;
``(B) an explanation of how that such project 
will--
``(i) engage communities across lines of 
polarization;
``(ii) facilitate the establishment or 
continuation of civic bridgebuilding and social 
cohesion, which may include addressing the root 
causes of polarization and conflict as 
described in the publicly available collection 
of publications for a research base established 
under subsection (b)(3)(C);
``(iii) reflect research supporting the 
efficacy and impact of the proposed approach 
for the project; and
``(iv) ensure physical, social, and 
psychological well-being and safety for all 
participants involved in the project, including 
for such participants from historically 
marginalized communities;
``(C) a description of best practices grounded in 
principles of scientific research for how such safety 
will be achieved; and
``(D) an assurance that the eligible entity will 
report outcomes of such project to track effectiveness 
based on standardized criteria established by the 
Office of Civic Bridgebuilding under subsection (b)(1).
``(4) Uses of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out a 
project to advance civic bridgebuilding in communities across 
the United States.
``(e) Comptroller General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall, not later than 18 months after the end of the 3-year 
period of the program carried out under subsection (d)(1)(A) and, as 
applicable, not later than 18 months after each 3-year period of the 
program carried out under subsection (d)(1)(B), submit to Congress a 
report, which summarizes and assesses the effectiveness and impact of 
the activities carried out under grants awarded under subsection (d).
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Civic bridgebuilding.--The term `civic 
bridgebuilding'--
``(A) means an activity, grounded in principles of 
scientific research, that--
``(i) fosters respect between diverse 
communities;
``(ii) supports social cohesion and 
diminishes polarization;
``(iii) forges a sense of common civic 
purpose; and
``(iv) seeks to address a public concern 
such as unmet human, educational, health care, 
environmental, or public safety needs; and
``(B) includes--
``(i) activities that take place in local 
communities, where individuals and institutions 
come together to build empathy and social 
cohesion, strengthen belonging, and address 
local issues; and
``(ii) activities at the field level, where 
civic bridgebuilding leaders work together to 
share research and best practices, learn from 
one another, and grow other civic 
bridgebuilding.
``(2) Civic bridgebuilding field.--The term `civic 
bridgebuilding field' means--
``(A) the programs, leaders, and community groups 
involved in civic bridgebuilding activities;
``(B) researchers producing work based on 
principles of scientific research related to civic 
bridgebuilding in the United States and abroad; and
``(C) Federal agencies and public institutions 
engaged in or supporting work related to civic 
bridgebuilding in the United States and 
internationally.
``(3) Civic bridgebuilding leader.--The term `civic 
bridgebuilding leader' means an individual who leads civic 
bridgebuilding programs or efforts.
``(4) Civic engagement.--The term `civic engagement' means 
an individual or collective action designed to address a public 
concern such as an unmet human, educational, health care, 
environmental, or public safety need.
``(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
nonprofit entity, community- or faith-based organization, 
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), 
public institution, or consortium of any such entities.
``(6) Public institution.--The term `public institution' 
means a library or unit of State, local, or special purpose 
government.
``(7) Research base.--The term `research base' means any 
publications that contain observations, analysis, and 
conclusions based on principles of scientific research with 
respect to the challenges of political and social polarization 
in the United States, and practical approaches to strengthen 
social cohesion, foster a sense of national connection, or 
improve intergroup relations in divided communities.
``(g) Funding.--No Federal funds are authorized to be made 
available to carry out this section. Such section shall be carried out 
exclusively using amounts donated under section 196.''.

SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 is amended by inserting at the end of the item 
relating to subtitle H of title I, the following:

``Part VI--Civic Bridgebuilding

``Sec. 198T. Office of Civic Bridgebuilding.''.
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